DEATH OF A BARMAID

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 79, 28 December 1918, Page 6

DEATH OF A BARMAID

JUMPS OUT OF A WINDOW. The circumstances connected with the death of a barmaid named .Jean Hunter, whose body was found lying on the roof of Pearson and Co.'s building, adjoining tho Post Office Hotel, on Thurs.day morning, were investigated by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., yesterday. Deceasedwas single, 3G years of age, and a native of Otago. The licensee _of the Post Office Hotel, Matthew William Muir, by whom deceased had been employed," stated that the deceased had complained of feeling unwell since the previous Saturday until the time of her disappearance on Monday. He had never seen tho deceased drinking, but he had come to the conclusion that she was doing so, and for that reason he had given her notice of dismissal. . Employees were forbidden to drink in the bar. Uma M'Lure.a waitress at tlifl hotel, deposed that she last saw the deceased about li.no p.m. on Monday. Decensed was then in bed, as she had complained of feeling ill, but she said then that she was feeling better. Witness heard that deceased had gone down (o tho kitchen about, 'i p.m. in a nightdress and a wrapper, and had remarked that unless someone brought her a eofiin pooh she would jump out of a window. Deceased had staled that she wns tired of life, biit as she was ill at tho lime witness did not tnki! her remarks seriously. About a year ago deceased sufl'ored ft nervous breakdown in Cliristchnrcli, and had never been quitt- the same since. Witness had never seen any sign of liquor about the deceased, and believed that any peculiarity in hor demeanour was due jo I ho illness in C'hristehurch. A verdict wjn returned Hint death n-na due lo injuries sustained by deceased' having jmnned on lo the ronf of Pearson nnd C'o.'s promises while temporarily insane.